"This will definitely be the most challenging Tour of Britain yet," according to race director, Mick Bennett and looking at today's route announcement it's hard to argue.

This year's race which starts on Sunday 15th September in Peebles and finishes on Sunday the 22nd in London will take riders to Cumbria and the Lake District, Snowdonia, Dumfries and Galloway, the Devon Moors, and what's sure to be an up and down stage through Surrey on the way to a finishing circuit in Central London.

On the way they will race over the longest stage in the race's history a 225Km battle through the heart of Cumbria culminating in an uphill finish in Kendall, on stage 2. Stage 3 follows that up with the longest individual time trial the race has run in the 10 year's since British Cycling and Sweet Spot revived it. Stage 4 takes the race across the middle of the country from Stoke-on-Trent to Llanberis in Wales, before stage 5 treats racers to a double helping of Caerphilly mountain - which proved such a spectacle last year.

Stage 6 may well prove one of the most decisive of the week with last year's winner Jonathan Tiernan Locke, racing over home roads from Sidmouth in Devon to the Tour's first ever summit finish at Haytor on Dartmoor. After that there's a 150km blast through Surrey from Epsom to Guildford which should still have enough ups and downs to keep things interesting - especially if the Guildford finish is the same as last year's before the race heads to Central London for what's always an exciting finale.

Announcing the route Bennett said that the aim was to produce a challenging race and to ensure that it stayed an open and competitive spectacle from start to finish.

“We have several unique features and are very excited about the inclusion of our first ever summit finish. Our longest ever time trial balances the course and will ensure that for spectators at the roadside and at home on television The Tour of Britain is a thrilling battle throughout.”

Only one l in Kendal. Is the finish in Kendal on Beast Banks? Cav won on there a few years back. Looks a decent route for the Lakes stage. And they have left plenty of passes to tick off for future visits

Fantastic there are some great stages and local to me too, but when will they be bringing out some proper OS maps for these stages, I need to plan my time off work and where I can go to get a good spot! The maps at the moment are lacking in detail.

Excellent My home town has gthe Tour of Britain going through - Mold - so I'll be asking for the day off and come home for the day. Good to see North Wales get included for the first time in ages. I'm so excited they'll be riding the roads of my youth!

Two loops of Caerphilly mountain last year was fantastic - great to see that again this year. I would definately recommend a vist,the hill is so steep that they have to ride 'slow' - great photo opportunities are guaranteed!

Lets hope Wiggo rides again but makes it to the Caerphilly stage this time and doesn't cry off with a bad gut.

Lake District stage should be awesome, the section along Crummock water is probably the best bit of road I've ridden in the UK. Honister should be cool too. Section along Coniston will be ace too, with a few little climbs between Ambleside and Coniston also proving some possible action. All my old riding haunts, ridden some of those roads hundreds of times when I was younger.

We could have epic stages in Britain to almost match the continental etapes through the highlands, lakes or N Wales, it's just that British Cycling and the sport in general do not have enough clout yet to organise them?

Also a typically useless set of stage maps and even more useless stage profiles, look at the TDF website for exemplars?

We could have epic stages in Britain to almost match the continental etapes through the highlands, lakes or N Wales, it's just that British Cycling and the sport in general do not have enough clout yet to organise them?

Also a typically useless set of stage maps and even more useless stage profiles, look at the TDF website for exemplars?

I don't think it's to do with 'clout'. As has already been said, if an authority isn't interested in supporting the event it's not feasible. Additionally, the logistics of transporting the whole race from the highlands to north Wales would be a nightmare. I'm sure the riders would really enjoy the transfers too.

As for the maps, the race is six months away. Are full detailed routes available on the website the TdF, which is a whole lot sooner? As with previous years (and all other races I'm aware of) the maps will be released once the route is finalised and agreed with the authorities.

Anyway, I think it looks a cracking route, can't wait to get out and see some top class riders on my doorstep.

Excellent My home town has gthe Tour of Britain going through - Mold - so I'll be asking for the day off and come home for the day. Good to see North Wales get included for the first time in ages. I'm so excited they'll be riding the roads of my youth!

If they use the main Mold – Ruthin road A494 up to Gwemymynydd Then I will be there. It a good climb so should slow them down enough to get a good look.